Community Organizations Work to Make Children's Holidays Bright

With the holiday season in full swing, over 8,000 children in San Bernardino County will be receiving gifts this year. Children's Fund received a $50,000 grant from First 5 San Bernardino during a check presentation made Dec. 17 at the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors meeting, allowing the nonprofit to purchase and distribute holiday gifts for economically disadvantaged children in the area. Erin Phillips, president and CEO of Children's Fund, said, "With childhood poverty creeping above 28 percent, sometimes it’s the simplest things, things that we may take for granted, that matter the most to our children." The partnership between First 5 San Bernardino - a collaborative effort of the Children and Families Commission for San Bernardino and community agencies providing services to children to promote and improve child development - and Children's Fund, a community organization that works to prevent child abuse, provide adequate shelter, clothing, medical care and education to children, "ensures that these precious children will receive a gift during the holidays, which may be the only gift received,” Phillips said. Now in its 26th year, Children's Fund's Celebration of Giving Campaign provides over 20,000 gifts to children in the Inland Empire each year. Partners include First 5 San Bernardino, various county departments, Spark of Love, Stater Bros. Markets, Arrowhead Credit Union, Amazon.com, KFROG, and other local businesses and residents who participate in this campaign. “It truly is about the kids,” shared Karen E. Scott, Executive Director of First 5 San Bernardino. “At First 5 we strive to provide optimal health and development for young children and their families. Our relationship with Children’s Fund is a perfect example of both entities working towards the same goal.”